7. The Surrender at Yorktown: Not the End
The British surrender at Yorktown in 1781 is often portrayed as the definitive end of the American Revolution. In reality, the conflict did not conclude overnight. Hostilities, uncertainty, and diplomatic wrangling persisted for nearly two more years. Only with the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783 was American independence formally recognized. This drawn-out conclusion highlights the complexities of ending a war and the importance of diplomacy in establishing the new nation.
